Etisalat to head start on 4G
View(s):By Duruthu Edirimuni Chandrasekera
Etisalat Lanka has held discussions with suppliers of 4G (Fourth Generation of mobile phone mobile communications standards) in a bid to prepare itself for the 4G spectrum licences the Telecom Regulatory Commission (TRC) plans to roll out soon, officials say.
“We are looking to the government (to deploy) 4G and they are talking about more spectrum. We have already spoken with 4G suppliers,” Robert Lee, Chief Commercial Officer, Etisalat told the Business Times. He said that 4G licenses aren’t granted as yet by TRC, but Etisalat is preparing for that eventuality. 4G is a successor of the third generation (3G) and it is the fourth generation of mobile phone mobile communications standards, a system providing mobile ultra-broadband Internet access, for example to laptops with USB wireless modems, to smartphones (mobile phones with advanced computing capability and connectivity than normal mobile phones) and to other mobile devices. Conceivable applications to 4G include high-definition mobile TV, video conferencing, 3D television and Cloud Computing. Mr. Lee said that wireless technologies are popular among emerging technologies for the telecommunications industry and that the phone is being relegated to conveying urgent messages, explaining intricate information or for more fun (and personal) conversations.
He said that data has become a ‘big thing’ and that smartphones are becoming interesting and fun.
“The use of 3G is catching on. There’s a huge shift from the fixed broadband. The small screen broadband is becoming popular and I think that the future is all about smartphones,” he added. New mobile generations have appeared about every 10 years since the first move from 1981 analog (1G) to digital (2G) transmission in 1992. This was followed, in 2001, by 3G multi-media support. Mr. Lee said Etisalat will focus all it’s energies into mobile phone expansions. He added that Sri Lankans enjoy high quality networks and also high quality prices. “Having five licences (operators) create chaos. There has to be some rationale in pricing,” he said, noting that one cannot drive prices forever.
The company recently shifted to a swanky new building in Colpetty from its earlier place at Grandpass. “We weren’t easily accessible, which is why we shifted to a new building and we’re opening new flagship stores,” Mr. Lee added.
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